*The people, language, food, architecture and traditional heritage and celebrations are what makes the German culture so unique and individualistic. Germany has such a rich culture and history and has embraced its identity as a multicultural country. The nation has undergone some very large population and culture shifts over the past 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War. There tends to be strong regional differences between individuals who were born and raised in the Western part of Germany and those who were born and raised in the Eastern part of Germany. However, most Germans have strong moral sensitivity based on lessons learned from the past that have taught them to understand and respect each other’s differences.
The official language of Germany is German (Deutsch). Most Germans are taught standard German (Standarddeutsch) in school, which is also commonly referred to as “high German” (Hochdeutsch) but there are varying regional accents and dialects used across the country. In northern Germany, you will often also hear what is called “low German” (Plattdeutsch), a West Germanic dialect that resembles the language spoken in The Netherlands since they are in such close proximity. In southern Germany, the Bavarian dialect (Bayrisch) is similar to the Germanic dialect spoken in bordering Austria. Despite slight differences in dialect, tone and speed, Germans from all regions are usually able to understand one another.
Accents, social attitudes, religion, and traditional practices are sometimes noticeable between those living in cities and those living in rural areas. Many major metropolitan cities are known for accepting more alternative lifestyles and social attitudes. More unconventional Germans and migrants typically flock to these cities where they feel more comfortable and welcomed. Those with more conventional and traditional German lifestyles tend to navigate towards the rural areas. Germans are very proud of their regional identities. It is quite normal for people to show more patriotism and loyalty to their local area than to their nation. Each of the cities and states of Germany have their own emblems, regional flags and coats of arms and you will often see more regional representation of flags and symbols used over the country’s.
Germans tend to differentiate one another based on their social ranking, paying more respect to those with experience and evidence of a higher level of education. Germans may also pick up on a person’s region of origin by listening to their accent. Privacy is highly valued in Germany. People tend not to divulge a lot of personal information about themselves or discuss their political and social views when first meeting strangers. Personal privacy is also important to maintain boundaries between someone’s professional and personal life. Germans generally keep a certain social distance from those they work with, however these boundaries quickly dissolve among friends when outside of work.
Germans are renowned for being very honest, sometimes to the point of being bluntly critical of the action of others. This is often misunderstood by other cultures. They are just doing what they expect in return. However, Germans become very open and share more personal details once they become friends with someone. From a German perspective, warmth and personal connection is reserved for those who are truly important to them. It gives their relationships greater integrity and value. Once you share a friendship with a German, those friendships will become some of the most loyal friendships you will ever have throughout your lifetime.
Germans are also known for being very orderly, industrious, analytical, and punctual. Always arrive on time when meeting a German whether for work or personal activities. They are also very direct communicators and like to understand the context of interactions and what is required of them by clarifying exactly what is expected. They rarely leave anything to chance. They do not engage in a lot of small talk and will typically get straight to the point of the matter. If a German asks you if you would like something to drink or eat and you say “no”, they will generally not ask you again.
And when a German has already given you a response to a question asked of them, do not press them because it could make them feel awkward or pressured if you continue to repeat the same question after they have already given you an answer earlier in the conversation.
Greetings generally differ in formality depending on whether a German knows the other person or not. The most common greeting is the handshake while making direct eye contact. Close friends may hug or kiss one another on the cheek. “Guten Tag” (Good Day) or “Hallo” (Hello) are the most common verbal greetings when meeting someone. In the southern part of Germany, most Germans will use “Gruess Gott” (Greet God). In formal situations, one should always address another person with their title and last name. “Herr” (Mr.) is used for men, while “Frau” (Mrs./Ms.) is used for women. The politest thing for someone to do is to remain formal until they are invited to address the person by their first name.
Family is fundamentally important to most Germans. People value the unique personal relationships they hold with each individual member of their family and the strong and unwavering support they receive from one another. Germans foster aspirations to help their family and friends reach their full potential, while encouraging their children to be self-reliant so they are prepared to be independent functioning adults. You will find that most children will move out of their parent’s home once they start attending a university or as soon as they are in a financial position to do so.
Germany is a very secular country and religion tends to be regarded as a private matter. Nevertheless, most of the population identifies as religious with Christianity being the traditional and dominant faith chosen by most. This continually changes with the influx of migrants bringing their own religious affiliations into Germany. Despite many Germans indicating that they follow a specific religious affiliation, the number of those actively practicing these religions is much lower. Germany is also the birthplace of Martin Luther, who initiated the Protestant Reformation movements of the 16th century in resistance to the creed of the Catholic church. His movement eventually let to a political divide between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. This was mediated by a territorial distribution of religious practice. Entire towns and municipalities once followed the faith of their local rulers. This geographical division of faith can still be visible in religious affiliations today. The south and the west are generally more of Catholic faith while the north and the east are often of Protestant faith. Many times, outsiders are able to look at the religious architectures and easily understand the predominant religious faith of each area they visit.
Here are some common suggestions for using basic etiquette when interacting with Germans:
- Always recycle, reuse, minimize waste and be conscious of the environment as much as possible
- Dress suitable for each occasion and not too casually
- Do not keep your hands in your pockets when speaking with someone
- It is impolite to rest your feet on furniture
- It is quite common for Germans to share tables and public spaces with strangers
- Most Germans prefer to socialize in public places vs. at any one individual’s home
- Always knock before entering a room out of respect for their privacy
- Schedule visits at home in advance and do not just show up unannounced
- Germans often prefer mineral water over tap water for drinking and many prefer seltzer water
- If you are visiting a German home, it is a nice gesture to bring flowers, wine or sweets for the host
- Exercise discretion when bringing up politics, religion, controversial historical topics and refugee settlement
- Avoid drawing unnecessary attention to yourself in public as it can be viewed as a lack of self-control
- Maintain an acceptable amount of personal distance from one another
- Use direct eye contact when speaking with someone, especially regarding serious matters
- Sunday is a family day and a day of rest for most Germans
- Many Germans are quite relaxed about nudity and the human body
- Business meetings in Germany have strict and precise agendas with little small talk
- Germans generally aim to find the most efficient way to do something in their professional and personal lives
- Expect Germans to closely adhere to rules and regulations
*Information credit: : https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/german-culture/german-culture-core-concepts